OCC’s Workman to Have Surgery

Orange Coast football Coach Bill Workman has prostate cancer and will undergo surgery this morning at USC’s Norris Cancer Center, the school announced Tuesday.

Because of early detection, Workman’s prognosis for a full recovery is excellent, Workman said in a release.

“I have a great deal of confidence in my physician, and I’m certain things will go well,” he said. “My doctor feels that I’m in excellent health and that my recovery should be complete.”

Workman, 58, has been the Pirates’ coach the last 12 seasons. Defensive coordinator Mike Taylor will be the Pirates’ head coach while Workman is in recovery, expected to be six to seven weeks.

Before coming to Orange Coast, Workman coached Edison High for 13 seasons, leading the Chargers to seven Sunset League titles and three Southern Section championships.

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Jerry Howell has resigned as Costa Mesa boys’ athletic director and will be replaced by Bill Wettengel, a former Mustang cross-country coach, for the rest of the school year, Howell said Tuesday.

There isn’t one particular reason he stepped down, Howell said, but he hopes to devote more time to his position as football coach.

“I was just kind of out of gas,” Howell said. “I couldn’t put my finger on the reason. I was running all over and didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. It was time for someone else to give it a try.”

Wettengel, a Costa Mesa High guidance counselor who coached cross-country for 20 years, is retiring in June and has agreed to be interim athletic director until then.

Howell, who is preparing for his fourth season as football coach, said he didn’t rule out becoming the athletic director again.

“Nothing’s really happened,” he said. “I took my name off the door but I keep answering the phone.”